Later on in the day, Kitty---now that she'd made herself most likely the most popular girl aboard ship---found Amelia standing up in the crow's nest, staring off into the Etherium.
"Hey there, Amelia," Kitty said, greeting the strangely silent felinid Captain.
"Oh...hello there, Kitty," Amelia replied, smiling a bit wanly, still looking out into the vastness of the Etherium.
Kitty frowned, seeing that something was bothering Amelia...but just what? "Anything wrong, Captain?" she asked kindly.
Amelia finally turned her proud head, and gave Kitty the benefit of a small smile. "Oh, nothing of any importance, dear," she replied, attempting to be reassuring.
Now it was Kitty who lifted an eyebrow at Amelia. "Yeah, right," Kitty declared, utterly unconvinced.
Amelia's lips quirked in a sad sort of smile. "Very well. I never was a very convincing liar, I suppose," she told Kitty, sighing. "I was pondering something was all..."
"Oh? Like what, for instance?" Kitty asked.
"Hmm, how do I phrase this precisely?" Amelia stated, then took a deep breath. "Is it just me...or do you find it rather odd that I---who have the most authority aboard this ship---go about practically unnoticed, while you, my dear girl, who have practically no authority at all, can hardly move about this infernal tub without a crowd following about in your wake?"
"Huh?" Kitty questioned at first, prepared to utter a protest, but ended up by blushing and looking over at Amelia as she suddenly realised just what was going on. "You mean, that you're jealous? Of me?" she asked in utter disbelief.
"Do come now, Kitty," Amelia reasoned quietly. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed what's been going on aboard ship." She sighed again, and turned away, closing her eyes wearily.
"Oops," Kitty said apologetically and smiled. "It wasn't like I meant to do this, you know. But, tell you what...I can help you out, if you like."
Amelia looked up, once again arching her pink eyebrow...the left one this time. "Really? Do tell, Kitty," she prompted the girl, her expression a mix of a willingness to listen with a dose of healthy skepticism.
Kitty nervously ran a hand through her short blond hair. "Well, okay, I´ll try," Kitty said a bit nervously. "But, realize that my help comes with a price."
"Prudent. So, what might this price be then?" Amelia asked, curious yet a bit suspicious as well.
As to her answer, Kitty simply looked down to where Alexander stood talking with the simian spacer, and then arched her eyebrows meaningfully at Amelia. Amelia then groaned softly, frowning. But, she decided soon enough. "Very well. You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Petro. Henceforth, I vow to cease any more matchmaking between you and Mr. Dalley. Satisfied?"
Kitty smiled, and nodded. "Great. Okay, then...I'll give you that advice now."
"Wonderful," Amelia replied a bit acerbically. "Do go on, I'm listening," Amelia added.
"Here goes... You need to try relax a little bit, Amelia. If all everyone sees you as is some stern Captain with no emotions or personality, then the only attention you´ll likely get will be that of fear and respect for your authority. Now, I don't know about you, mind, but I myself would like a bit more than that myself..."
Amelia smiled back at her, thinking over what she had just said. "I see. You do make a good point, Kitty. I shall give your counsel consideration, I think," she said.
Kitty smiled, took her leave of the hard thinking Captain, and headed down to the deck to see Arrow. "Mr. Arrow, might I have a few moments of your time?" Kitty asked.
"Yes, I believe I may spare you a few minutes, Ms. Petro," Arrow said. "What have you on your mind, Miss?"
"Remember how you said you wanted to play matchmaker between Amelia and her future husband?" Kitty pointed out to Arrow.
"Why, yes. Yes, I do indeed. What brings this up, Kitty? Have you found a suitable fellow for the Captain?" Arrow said, grinning.
Kitty snickered, then shook her head. "Well, sort of I have...maybe. Remember back when I told you about that movie of mine...the one where you and Amelia appear in it?"
Arrow simply nodded his head.
Kitty smiled at that. "Okay then, well, I thought you might want to see one particular picture from it," Kitty explained, giving Arrow a picture of Delbert and Amelia's future children, who were all adorable. Arrow blinked several times, his mouth working though he spoke no words at first.
"A Canid? The Captain...with a canid fellow?" Arrow asked in disbelief. "Are you quite certain?"
"Yep! And he's not just a canid, Arrow. He's a Doctor of Astrophysics, very wealthy, and rather cute too...though, in a bookish sort of way" Kitty went to say. Arrow was suitably impressed.
"Hmm. Most suitable indeed, Kitty. Intelligent, well to do, as well as being a bit shy and charming," Arrow mused aloud, nodding his head once. "Do go on..."
Kitty grinned in spite of herself. "Yeah, he's a keeper...though, I will admit that he does have the tendency to bather on sometimes, but I'm sure that a few weeks with Amelia would cure that problem in no time at all."
Arrow chuckled at Kitty's saying that. "You really are a rather unique young woman, Ms. Kitty Petro," he said to Kitty in an amused affectionate voice.
Kitty promptly blushed and smiled a warm smile. "Well...I do try," Kitty commented cleverly.
Arrow grinned, thinking. "So, Kitty...just when is our intrepid Captain and the good Doctor supposed to make their acquaintance with one another?" Arrow asked, intrigued.
Kitty narrowed her eyes a moment, thinking. "Well, near as I can remember, Amelia's going to be around thirty years old when she meets Doctor Doppler," Kitty proclaimed. "It's been great talking with you, Arrow. But, I got things I've got to do...so if you'll excuse me then..."
"Of course," answered a still bemused Arrow. "Be on your way, Miss. Oh...and thank you for telling me all this."
"No problem, Arrow. See ya!" Kitty returned, and then headed into the chambers she shared with Amelia. Once there, she took a seat and began drawing pictures of tigers, lions, panthers, snow lepoards...yes, nearly every big cat she'd ever heard of. Time flew past as she drew, and with a start, she saw just what time it had become already...nearly ten o'clock! She decided---then and there---it was time to turn in and get some sleep.
As she laid herself down, she thought about Amelia. Was she really jealous of her? That came as quite the shock to Kitty, who had never thought anyone would ever be jealous of her. Well, she thought as she yawned and closed her eyes, that only goes to prove that there are surprises to found nearly everywhere...